Chapter VIII.
Project Gutenberg HTML edition
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smith, Joseph, Jr., and Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
The Book of Mormon Publishedthe Church Organized.
Price for Publishing Book of Mormon.
Meantime, our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, secured the copyright, and agreed with Mr. Egbert B. Grandin to print five thousand copies for the sum of three thousand dollars.
The Title Page.
I wish to mention here that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general;[1] and that said title page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation. Therefore, in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it, I give below that part of the title-page of the English version of the Book of Mormon, which is a genuine and literal translation of the title-page of the original Book of Mormon as recorded on the plates:
The Book of Mormon.
An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon Plates, taken from the Plates of Nephi.
Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, who are a {72} remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyedTo come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereofSealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of GentileThe interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether, also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to heaven; which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now, if there are faults, they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
The remainder of the title-page is, of course, modern.
A Commandment of God and not of man, to Martin Harris, given (Manchester, New York, March, 1830) by Him who is Eternal.[2]
1. I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea even I am He, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.
2. I, having accomplished and finished the will of Him, whose I am, even the Father, concerning mehaving done this that I might subdue all things unto myself
3. Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and deeds which he hath done.
4. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless;
5. Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand;
{73} 6. Nevertheless it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
7. Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other Scriptures, that it might work among the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name's glory.
8. Wherefore I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine Apostles.
9. I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest;
10. For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand, is endless punishment, for endless is my name: wherefore
11. Eternal punishment is God's punishment.
12. Endless punishment is God's punishment.
13. Wherefore I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;
14. And it is by my almighty power that you have received them;
15. Therefore I command you to repentrepent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sorehow sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not!
16. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17. But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I,
18. Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer, both body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink
19. Nevertheless glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men;
20. Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power, and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.
21. And I command you, that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me.
22. For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.
23. Learn of me and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
24. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do His will,
{74} 25. And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife; nor seek thy neighbor's life.
26. And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God.
27. Which is my word to the Gentiles, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the Gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.
28. And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.
29. And thou shalt declare glad tidings, yea, publish it upon the mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people that thou shalt be permitted to see.